Yipe is a definitely still a chance that the States could end up 4th, with Mexico, Panama & Costa Rica to play in the March window.
Certainly more of a chance they could finish there than Mexico, who have Honduras & El Salvador as their last 2 games.
But overall you'd favour it will be Panama or CR in that playoff spot.
Certainly more of a chance they could finish there than Mexico, who have Honduras & El Salvador as their last 2 games.
But overall you'd favour it will be Panama or CR in that playoff spot.
I haven’t seen too much of the US team play recently but to anyone who watches them do you think we’d have more a chance against them than Panama/Costa Rica?
I feel we tend to struggle a bit more against teams with that “South American” flair ala Mexico\Costa Rica etc whereas we got a good result against the US last time we played them (although very different scenarios vs a winner take all play off).
The biggest challenge I think is the fact these teams have played a large number of high stakes games together over the past 2 years compared to us. Hopefully the OFC qualifiers will give the squad a bit of a taste of that albeit on a much smaller scale. Also the fact Hay is going to have to mix n match the squad for the first 2 games because of that ridiculous scheduling decision won’t help.
My understanding is the States have a host of young, very talented players. Pulisic (age 23, only a sub in their last game), Weah (21), Pepi (19), McKennie (23), de la Torre (23) etc. Those last 4 guys all started against Honduras (a 3-0 win).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/02/03/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/united-states-of-america/honduras/3517526/
Where they may sometimes have come unstuck, is blending in the MLS based crew (mostly a bit older), with the talented young players based in Euro land.
Yeah AWs managed a 1-1 draw in 2016 under Huddo, but from memory that was a pretty 2nd strength US team (all local MLS guys?). And that USA side failed to finish in even the top 4 CONCACAF sides in 2017 (missing out on Russia).
Your point stands though, that the big advantage the CONCACAF playoff team (likely Panama or CR, not the US) will have - is going in off a tough, knife edge qualifying campaign. Friendlies in neutral ME with no crowds, don't go close to simulating that.
It's where the old Confeds Cup was so handy (2009 & 2017), pre the Intercontinental Playoffs. 3 tough meaningful pool games, in front of crowds. No coincidence perhaps that the AWs worse performance in the Playoffs (Mexico 2013), came in off the back of failing to be at 2013 Confeds in Brazil (ie post Horror in Honiara)